Week # 400                                          Limbo District performing "Bamboo Ruin"

May 18, 2018

                                                                 Winner:  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                 English, Archdale, NC;  Darryl  White, Melbourne, AU;  Andy                                                                               Johnson, Athens, GA;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Tim                                                                                     Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Robby                                                                                 McMahon, Gainesville, GA;  Dana Downs, Athens, GA;  Craig                                                                               Williams, Portland, OR;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Matt Morris,                                                                   Winston-Salem, NC. 

 

Hint: this band was arguably Athens' most unique musical/art group from the early 1980's. Their most notable attribute was a film produced by Jim Herbert, of the UGA School of Art. That film was set to debut at the Watt on Clayton but it had to be postponed due to a theft of essential equipment belonging to the band, and the debut took place at the Broad Street Watt instead. Sadly, one of the members of this group passed away not long ago. This is the first time we've featured a clip from the only recording we have of this band since his passing. 

 

 

Week #401                                           10,000 Maniacs performing "Pit Viper"

May 25, 2018

                                                                  Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tim Abbott,                                                                    Skipton, UK;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Tom English, Archdale,                                                                    NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem,                                                                      NC;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;                                                                    Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this band is one of my all-time favorites and I'm always grateful that I had the opportunity to work with them when they were starting out on a long-lived career. Their first show in Athens was at the Watt on Broad the month after we opened, and they played several shows afterward as they climbed the music business ladder. They were one of the bands who came to town and asked me to come with them to Atlanta, and I almost left the Classic City for good as a result.  Regrettably, their lead singer left the band just when they were close to mega-success, and that was followed by the early demise of their extremely talented guitarist. 

 

 

Week #402                                           the Plague performing "Big JC"

June 1, 2018

                                                                 Winner:  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.  Co-winners:  Darryl                                                                               White, Melbourne, AU;  Tom  English, Archdale, NC;  Andy                                                                                 Johnson, Athens, GA;  Jennifer G. Barnhart, Athens, GA;  Kip                                                                             Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Vanessa Hay, Athens, GA;  Tim Abbott,                                                                   Skipton, UK;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Steve Fleming,                                                                         Seattle, WA;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Kenneth  Rogers,                                                                           Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: This was a local Athens band that was a flag-bearer for punk in the Classic City. They made their debut at a defunct textile factory down by the river on Oconee Street, across from an Episcopalian church steeple that was part of the textile workers' social fabric around a century ago. That show happened to be attended by the drummer for another local band whose reputation was better known, and all that led to their performance at Stitchcraft on a balmy Athens evening the following September. We'll award an extra 5 points to everyone who can provide the name of that widely-known band, and another 5 points to anyone who can provide the name of the band whose PA I rented to work both of those shows. 

 

 

Week #403                                           Dream Syndicate performing "I Still Belong to You"

June 8, 2018

                                                                 Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Darryl White,                                                                       Melbourne, AU;  Andy  Johnson, Athens, GA; Tim Abbott, Skipton,                                                                   UK;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;  Matt Morrison, Winston-                                                                           Salem, NC;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                                     Huntsville, AL;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Kenneth Rogers,                                                                           Atlanta, GA.

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Hint: this band formed in California in 1981, its founder a student at UC Davis who put together an ensemble that quickly earned a reputation for psychedelic rock. They came to the Watt on Broad in the autumn of '86, and this clip is an excerpt from that show. They remained active until a breakup in 1989, then re-formed in 2012 and are performing currently. The front man's association with Pete Buck has brought the band some notoriety, but commercial success has eluded them although they have received mostly favorable critical acclaim. 

 

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Week #404                                            Is Ought Gap performing "Schwa"

June 15, 2018

                                                                  Winner:  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.  Co-winners:  Kip                                                                                    Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Tim  Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Darryl                                                                                White, Melbourne, AU;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Tom                                                                                    English, Archdale, NC;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Craig                                                                                Williams, Portland, OR;  Steve  Fleming, Seattle, WA. 

 

Hint: this band formed as a side effort involving members of other Athens bands almost as a lark that then became more serious. They only performed a few times in town, this clip representing a performance from the winter of '85-'86. The front man also performed in several other Athens bands from the middle 80's, while the other members were drawn from another Athens band current at the time.

 

 

Week #405                                            Circle Jerks performing "Makin' A Bomb"

June 22, 2018

                                                                   Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Chris                                                                                   Hartstonge, London, UK;  Tim  Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Tom                                                                                   English, Archdale, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Craig                                                                                 Williams, Portland, OR;  Melissa Bock, Charlotte, NC;  Steve                                                                               Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Andy  Johnson, Athens, GA;  Kenneth                                                                             Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this band called Los Angeles home, coming to the Watt on Broad in the mid-80's. They formed in 1979 as one of the pioneer hardcore punk bands from the West Coast. They featured a variety of personnel during their active years, which ended in 2010 but not before releasing six studio albums. Since then they've been on "hiatus".

 

 

Week #406                                             White Buffalo performing "Jam Medley"

June 29, 2018

                                                                   Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Andy Johnson,                                                                     Athens, GA;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Darryl White,                                                                                     Melbourne, AU;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;   Kip Shepherd,                                                                         Huntsville, AL;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Tim Abbott,                                                                         Skipton, UK;  Jennifer Barnhart, Athens, GA;  Kenneth Rogers,                                                                         Atlanta, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: this was a local band that started toward the end of the 80's and performed around town for several years thereafter. Taking their name from a mythical Native American icon, they developed a reputation as a jam band that people liked to dance to. This clip derives from the only recording I have of them, made at O'Malley's in the spring of '92. 

 

 

Week #407                                             Love Tractor performing "Pretty"

July 6, 2018

                                                                   Winner:  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.  Co-winners:  Craig                                                                                 Williams, Portland, OR;  Tom  English, Archdale, NC;  Andy                                                                                 Johnson, Athens, GA;  Jennifer Barnhart, Athens, GA;  Tim                                                                                 Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Kip                                                                                       Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Matt  Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                             Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this band really needs no introduction at all, they were one of Athens' most well-known and loved dance bands for most of the 1980's and beyond. They survived replacing their drummer twice before reaching a point that their nonstop dance jams became a legend in the Classic City. They were also a personal favorite of mine, and I took a working holiday from the Watt many times to go work for them around the South at frat parties, club engagements and opening for national acts that included the B-52's, Husker Du and others. Like I said, they need no introduction, good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #408                                               Medicine Show performing "Opportunity Waltz"

July 13, 2018

                                                                     Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Andy                                                                                   Johnson, Athens, GA;  Tom English, Archdale, NC;  Kip                                                                                         Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;  Matt                                                                         Morrison, Winston-Salem, NC; Craig Williams, Portland, OR;                                                                               Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this band was one of those that came to the Watt and were so entertaining I put a tape in the deck and pressed the record button. Unfortunately, I don't remember any details about them and since I didn't play the tape for about 30 years their identity is lost to me now. I wish I had more of a clue but I don't, so I'll tell you that their name consists of two words, the first one is in the middle of the alphabet, and the name suggests something from Americana circa 1900. They derived from the European term "mountebank", and that's about the best clue I can give you. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #409                                                New Invincibles performing "Hotline"

July 20, 2018

                                                                      Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Darryl White,                                                                        Melbourne, AU;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Craig Williams,                                                                              Portland, OR;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                              Huntsville, AL;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Tim Abbott,                                                                                Skipton, UK.

 

Hint: this was a local band that formed in the late 80's and played the Watt on Clayton several times. They were noted for being the preeminent Athens surf band during that period. The drummer was our first Band of the Week champion, and he sadly passed away a few years ago, followed by the untimely demise of the bassist, who succumbed to a snake bite in the mountains of North Carolina. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #410                                                Glass Eye (title unknown)

July 27, 2018

                                                                      Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Kip                                                                                      Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Tim                                                                                Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK  Tom                                                                                  English, Archdale, NC;  Melissa Bock, Charlotte, NC;  Kenneth                                                                            Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Craig                                                                                      Williams, Portland, OR.

 

Hint: This band was one of the many who followed the pipeline from Austin, Texas to Athens in the 1980's. Their Wikipedia article describes them as an "influential art-rock group", which fits in well with Athens at the time. Their career spanned the period from 1983 to 1993, with a brief reunion in 2006. They released 5 full-length studio albums as well as 3 EPs, not too shabby for an art rock band! 

 

 

Week #411                                                Club GaGa performing "All Giraffes"

August 3, 2018

                                                                      Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                    English, Archdale, NC;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;  Matt                                                                              Morris, Winston-Salem, SC;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;                                                                                      Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;                                                                              Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: this band was a local favorite in Athens during most of the 1980's, performing at the 40 Watt, the Uptown and the Human Rights Festival many times. They also made a trip to New York around 1985 to play CBGB's, a trip on which yours truly accompanied them. Although their style was somewhat loose and disorganized at times, the Bohemian contingent in Athens always turned out to support them, a characteristic no doubt assisted by the leader residing across the street from the Taco Stand on Milledge, in the house where the B-52's first performed.  Sadly, the drummer passed away a couple of years ago. 

 

 

Week #412                                                Fugazi performing "Song #1"

August 10, 2018

                                                                      Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Darryl White,                                                                        Melbourne, AU;  Andy  Johnson, Athens, GA;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                              Huntsville, AL;  Jennifer Barnhart,  Athens, GA;  Matt  Morris,                                                                            Winston-Salen, NC;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Craig Williams,                                                                          Portland, OR;  Steve  Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Chris Hartstonge,                                                                          London, UK;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this band called the DC area home, forming in 1987 and performing till taking hiatus in 2003. They played the Watt on Clayton less than a month before the anniversary of the release of their first album. They have been called "post hardcore" but they had a unique musical flavor that defied labels. In all they released six studio albums and one film during their career that spanned 16 years, most of which spurned the music industry in general and which gave impetus to what became the "DIY" movement in modern music.

 

 

Week #413                                                Normaltown Flyers performing "All Shook Up"

August 17, 2018

                                                                      Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Darryl                                                                                      White,  Melbourne, AU;  Andy  Johnson, Athens, GA;  Chris                                                                                  Hartstonge, London, UK;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Kip                                                                                      Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Matt Morrison, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                          Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA,                                                                              Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: this band was a local favorite in the Normaltown area of Athens for years, performing as a trio on Wednesdays at Allen's Hamburgers on Prince Avenue,  made famous in a B-52's song. When they played the 40 Watt Uptown they brought in some local talent who'd performed with them at various times in the past, fleshing the trio out to a full band with a trap set and two guitarists, one of whom also played fiddle and lap steel. This clip is from one of their final shows at the Watt, taking place about two months before its doors closed for good in 1987. 

 

 

Week #414                                                 Georgia Satellites performing "Can't Stand the Pain"

August 24, 2018

                                                                       Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Kip                                                                                       Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Tom                                                                             English, Archdale, NC;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Chris                                                                                     Hartstonge, London, UK;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                               Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;                                                                                 Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK.

 

Hint: this band burst on the Atlanta rock scene in the early 80's and recorded an EP at Axis Studios in Atlanta, which promptly went in the tank and the band broke up. Their manager in the UK didn't give up, and he talked a Yorkshire label into re-releasing the EP and it met with a good reception in the UK as a result. That changed things in the US and the band was reborn with some personnel changes, and one of the songs on the EP made it to #2 on the Billboard charts. They went on to a successful career before breaking up for good, although the lead guitarist is still on tour with new blood backing him. They're playing Larchwood, Iowa tomorrow if you want to catch their current incarnation! Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #415                                                 the Land Sharks performing "Black Hole"

August 31, 2018

                                                                       Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                   English, Archdale, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;   Andy                                                                                 Johnson, Athens, GA;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;  Steve                                                                               Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Craig                                                                                 Williams, Portland, OR.

 

Hint: this band was Athens' only legitimate fusion-rock group, forming about the time we moved to Broad Street and performing for about three years before breaking up. There was a standing joke among other musicians that they went to see this band play but they tried to hide their faces so people wouldn't recognize them. They developed a small but loyal following
that  always responded with exuberance. Their name derived from a popular Saturday Night Live skit that was current at the time. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #416                                                 Flat Duo Jets

September 7, 2018                            

End of 8th Year                                         Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                   English, Archdale, NC;  Chris  Hartstonge, London, UK;  Kip                                                                                 Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;                                                                                       Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                           Steve Fleming, Seattle,  WA;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK.

 

Hint: this "band" was a duo from North Carolina that came to Athens around the time that the documentary "Athens, GA Inside Out" was filmed, including this band in it although they hadn't been in town long at that point. They played the Watt on Broad in the summer of 1986, with a sax player from Athens sitting in, which show produced this recording. We'll award an extra 10 points to the first person who identifies that sax player, who will soon be performing at a benefit for his wife, who's battling breast cancer. We'll also award 10 points to anyone who identifies the sister of the lead singer/guitarist, who has performed in other Tarheel bands who have played the Watt in the past. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

 

Final Points at End of 8th Year:  Congratulations!!

Darryl White     553     /     Tom English   539     /     Chris Hartstonge   531     /     Kip Shepherd   480     /     Andy Johnson   472

Tim Abbott       361     /     Craig Williams   295   /   Steve Fleming   260     /     Kenneth Rogers   204     /     Matt Morris   178.5

Melissa Bock       57     /     Jennifer Barnhart   24     /     Liam O'Hara   23     /  Joel Suttles 14     /     Chris Howard   11     /     

Vanessa Hay       11     /     Lynn Berndt   8     /     Kevin Brady   7     /     Robby McMahon   7     /     Dana Downs   4     

 

 

 

Week #417                                                  Dreams So Real performing "Dance"

September 14, 2018

                                                                        Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Matt                                                                                      Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;                                                                                  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Joel Suttles, Asheville, NC;                                                                                    Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Chris                                                                          Hartstonge, London, UK;  David  Judd, Alexandria, Virginia;                                                                                Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;                                                                                       Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA

 

Hint: this band was one of Athens' finest from the decade of the 80's, forming in 1983 when the members met while browsing at Wuxtry's. They quickly climbed in popularity locally and garnered attention in the big city music halls when Peter Buck produced their first record, a 45 RPM single. They went on to release an album on the indie label Coyote, followed by two studio albums on the Arista label, but the second failed to make much of a dent although the first album produced a track that reached #28 on the Billboard charts. They broke up soon after the second album was released in 1990 and the members went in disparate directions, although they reunited for Athfest in 2009. Good luck everybody!!

 

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Week #418                                                  Jody Grind performing "Wishin' and Hopin'"

September 21, 2018

                                                                        Winner:  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA.  Co-winners:  Darryl                                                                                      White, Melbourne, AU;  Matt  Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                                  Tom English, Archdale, NC;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Kip                                                                                  Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;                                                                                        Melissa Bock, Charlotte, NC; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;                                                                                Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.

 

Hint: this band came to the Watt on Clayton version 2.0 shortly before the end of my tenure as the Watt's sound man in early 1990. They were supporting the release of their first album, which was favorably reviewed by Michael Stipe. Sadly, their bassist and drummer were killed in a wreck soon after the release of their second album in early 1992. The group disbanded after that, and the lead singer went on to a successful solo career and steady employment as a backing vocalist. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #419                                                  J.J. Cale performing "Magnolia"

September 28, 2018

                                                                        Winner:  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA.  Co-winners:  Darryl                                                                                      White, Melbourne, AU;  Kip  Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Tom                                                                                English, Archdale, NC;  Chris Hartstong, London, UK;  Craig                                                                                Williams, Portland, OR;  Matt Morrison, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                              Kenneth Rogers,  Atlanta, GA;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK

 

Hint: this band was a noted singer-songwriter with his backup band of the moment, they came to the Broad Street Watt a few months before its close. Although I was presented with serious flaws in the guitar amp those didn't mitigate the crowd's apparent enjoyment, as is evidenced by the crowd noise at the beginning and end of the clip. This selection was covered by many artists, including Poco, Beck, Lucinda Williams, Iron & Wine, Jose Feliciano, Ben Bridwell, John Mayer with Eric Clapton and Sadie Johnson.  My first wife and I covered most of the songs on his first album, including the clip selection.